Western PA Local News category, Page 1608
Pittsburgh’s proposed 1% tax on college tuition, medical bills met with opposition
A proposal to impose a 1% tax on college tuition and medical bills in Pittsburgh is facing opposition and potential legal problems. Councilman Ricky Burgess introduced the measure Tuesday. Students seeking higher education in colleges, universities and advanced technical schools would be assessed a 1% tax on their tuition before...
State awards grants to Monroeville-area emergency service providers
When a 10-year-old used pumper fire truck still costs about $170,000, a grant for $15,000 might not seem like a lot. But it means plenty to local fire companies, according to Monroeville Volunteer Fire Company No. 4 Chief Logan Stadler. “These grants are extremely beneficial,” Stadler said. “It helps us...
Accused Jeannette shoplifter arrested on multiple criminal charges after return trip to store, police say
A suspected shoplifter’s return trip Tuesday to a Dollar General store in Jeannette ended in the man’s arrest on multiple felony drug delivery and possession charges when police said they discovered him with crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and prescription opioid medication. Police said they seized nearly a brick of heroin,...
Verona seeks public input for transportation plan
Verona officials are seeking input from residents on how to make the community more walkable and bikeable. Borough council will hold a public meeting at from 5 to 7 p.m. March 24 at Railroad Park, 737 E. Railroad Ave., to discuss the upcoming coordination of an active transportation plan, and...
Penn Hills grad creates scholarship in effort to give back to community
A Penn Hills High School graduate wanted to find a way to give back to her community after seeing the financial burden college students go through upon graduating from Morgan State University in 2008. “I got bogged down with student loans. I wished someone had given me knowledge on finances...
Snow can’t stop Page’s from opening in Pittsburgh to serve ice cream
It’s one of the first signs of spring — even on a snowy day. Page Dairy Mart on the South Side — now called Page’s — opened for the season Wednesday. “People wait months for opening day,” said Margie Page-Prusia, on Tuesday, as she tested the ice cream machine swirling...
Locks being removed from Pittsburgh’s Clemente Bridge on way to becoming art
This show of love couldn’t last. One by one, with the help of bolt cutters and electronic saws, construction workers began removing love locks from Pittsburgh’s Clemente Bridge on Wednesday morning. Then they unceremoniously threw the locks into buckets. Over the years, couples have attached thousands of locks to the...
Fire marshals still investigating fatal fire in New Kensington, fire responders lauded for their efforts
State police fire marshals continue to investigate the cause of a fire Sunday that swept through a duplex in New Kensington and resulted in the death of one woman. New Kensington fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said the fire was reported a few minutes before 6 p.m. Sunday. The blaze...
Jeannette may move property maintenance officer to full time
Jeannette Council is considering bumping its part-time property maintenance officer up to full-time status. The group discussed the move during an executive session this week and might vote on the matter at a session Thursday. Council in September hired Vincent Pascarella of New Stanton, resurrecting the job that fell in...
Monroeville Historical Society seeks donations toward repairing Old Stone Church bell tower
To restore an iconic part of local architecture, the Monroeville Historical Society is seeking donations toward repairing the bell tower of Old Stone Church. The tower came into disrepair about two years ago, when it slipped from its moorings because of deterioration to its masonry support. Since publishing an In...
Harrison zoning board to weigh Aldi proposal for Freeport Road
Harrison residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposal by grocery giant Aldi, whose company officials are eyeing a site along Freeport Road. J.R. Perry, Aldi’s Saxonburg Division vice president, confirmed last month that plans are in the works for a store in the Natrona Heights section...
Tarentum residents will face instant penalty for unsafe, eyesore properties
A new quality-of-life ordinance approved by Tarentum Council is expected to keep residents accountable for their properties, council members said during a meeting Tuesday night. Council enacted new guidelines aimed at keeping properties tidy and safe. The ordinance outlines health and safety requirements that target high grass, junk vehicles and...
Sewickley’s Tull Family Theater plans 2 free, autism-friendly events
The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley will host two events for people with autism and other special needs next weekend, including a sensory-friendly movie screening and an open mic session. Both are free. A sensory-friendly version of the PG-rated animated movie “Sing 2” will be screened at 10 a.m. March...
Temperatures drop, snow returns — more expected this weekend
Winter isn’t over quite yet. A cold front moving across the region Wednesday morning has dropped temperatures into the 30s and brought a morning snowfall, said Myranda Fullerton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. “We’re not expecting anything significant in terms of snowfall accumulation with this,” she...
East Huntingdon man facing more fraud charges over money taken for work not done
Home improvement fraud charges keep racking up against an East Huntingdon man who was arrested Monday in connection with nearly $49,000 taken from eight Westmoreland County residents. It’s the 10th such case filed against him in Westmoreland and Fayette counties in the past year, according to online court records. Jason...
Allegheny County Councilman Sam DeMarco exploring run for Congress
An Allegheny County councilman who heads the county’s GOP committee said he’s exploring a run for Congress in a district representing Beaver County and much of suburban Pittsburgh. Allegheny County Councilman Sam DeMarco, R-North Fayette, said Tuesday he is gathering signatures to get on the ballot in the upcoming primary...
The Stroller, March 9, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community Easter Egg hunts, breakfasts with the Easter Bunny and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. ServSafe course offered at Lenape Tech Lenape Technical School will offer a ServSafe Food Safety...
Pittsburgh police say gunshot victim flees pursuit, later dies in hospital
Police are investigating after they say a gunshot victim fled from them and later died in a hospital Tuesday night. Police said they responded to a reports of a shooting at the 500 block of Frayne Street in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood just after 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. They said they found...
Federal judge orders New Kensington landscaping company to pay $150,000 in back wages, penalties
A New Kensington landscaping company has been ordered to pay $150,000 in back wages and penalties after an investigation found the employer denied overtime pay to its workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the investigation found that Shurina Brothers LLC did not pay employees time-and-a-half for overtime hours...
Penn Hills woman pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $76,000 from Pittsburgh firm
A Penn Hills woman has pleaded guilty in federal court after prosecutors say she embezzled just under $75,800 from Pittsburgh-based Gleason & Associates. Jennifer R. Snider, 52, of Hulton Road, worked at the company as a comptroller in 2019 and 2020 when she allegedly embezzled the funds, said U.S. Attorney’s...
Police: Man injured after crashing into 2 parked cars, porch in Leechburg
A motorist was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after crashing into two parked cars and a porch in Leechburg. Police Chief Jason Schaeffer said the crash occurred about 5:40 p.m. in the 200 block of Pershing Avenue. Firefighters had to free the driver from the car . He was transported to Forbes...
Hempfield School Board decides to tear down existing high school to its bare bones, building up from there
Hempfield leaders are moving forward with a multimillion-dollar project that will involve tearing down the high school to its structural system and replacing everything as new. School board members voted 8-0 Tuesday night to overhaul the 66-year-old building rather than renovate the existing structure or build a new school. Board...
Allegheny Health Network to boost nurses’ pay
In an effort to retain nurses by making their pay more competitive, Allegheny Health Network announced Tuesday plans to boost wages for nonunion nursing staff. The pay raises are part of $92 million for increased pay and workplace enhancements the network plans for this year. “You always want to maintain...
Westmoreland courthouse structural concerns identified in January; collapse threat not imminent
Engineers in late January found deteriorating structural beams in a parking garage below the Westmoreland County Courthouse in downtown Greensburg. County officials said Tuesday that while urgency is needed to make repairs, there is no imminent threat of collapse. Core samples taken in October found evidence of deteriorating beams from...
Former state representative from Apollo stumps for lieutenant governor
Old friends reunited at a meet-and-greet for Republican lieutenant governor candidate Jeff Coleman on Tuesday at Ryan’s Creek House near Ford City. A former state representative and Apollo councilman, Coleman is campaigning across the state with a focus on bipartisanship and civility at a time when politics are facing division...
